Saturdays without homework are the best days. They're perfect for Emerald and I to go out without the underlying worry of the work or studying we're procrastinating on. Well, maybe for me anyway. Em always gets her work done as soon as possible. Me? Not so much. I'm still holding on to my hope that this new year will be procrastination-free, though.

"Where should we go?" I ask Em as I work on lacing up my black Converse near the front door.

She came over earlier this morning and we'd just been hanging out in my room until we decided we should go out for lunch. Usually we go to that same little coffee shop where we had our first date. It was an unofficial date, but I always look back on it with a smile, remembering how badly I wanted to hold her hand as we walked there side by side.

How oblivious I was to how she wanted to hold mine, in turn.

"I hear there's this new place not far from our usual spot," she suggests, grabbing my shoulder before I lose my balance while I still tie my shoes. "Do you need me to do that for you?"

I resist the urge to roll my eyes, not that she'd see it because I'm looking down at my feet. "I don't need my girlfriend to tie my shoes for me."

"Yes you do!" I hear Gerard yell from the living room.

"You're not part of this conversation!" I yell back.

He emerges from the other room and leans against the wall. He's got on a plain black T-shirt which I'm envious of for the simple fact that you can never get a plain black shirt in the women's section of any store. They all have to be cut short, or have an open back, or some weird graphic printed on it. "Where are you two headed?" he asks, looking between us.

I look over at Emerald, gesturing for her to answer the question, as I finally stand up straight. My shoes are tied in un-neat bows that'll either loosen within a few minutes or never be able to be untied.

"A new place not too far. I can't remember what it's called," she says.

Gee nods. "If it's any good, get me a—"

"Yes," I cut him off, knowing exactly the words about to leave his mouth. "We'll feed your coffee addiction."

"I wouldn't go that far."

I raise my eyebrows at him and I even hear Emerald snicker from beside me. She knows this family very well by now. And, to think, that a couple years ago she was just a band-obsessed teenager who was star-stricken every time she came for dinner. Now she's just a band-obsessed teenager.

Gee rolls his eyes at us. "Here." He hands me a five dollar bill. "Get me a cookie or something, too."

"What kind of cookie?" I ask, shoving the bill in the front pocket of my hoodie along with my own money and my phone.

I watch as he turns and walks back into the living room. He shrugs, calling over his shoulder. "I don't care, all cookies deserve love."

"Oatmeal raisin it is." I smirk.

"Just get back before 4, me and the guys are going to the studio."

• • •

The walk to the new coffee shop is pleasant. Em and I hold hands and quietly take in the scenery. The scenery that we've taken in maybe hundreds of times before, sure, but it'll still will cease to be beautiful.

We swing our arms as we walk and it reminds me of something I've always wondered about.

"Hey, Em?" Neither of us had spoken in a while, the only sound being a light breeze in our ears, our feet kicking up the gravel as we walk, and cars going by.

"Yeah, Evie?" Em squeezes my hand with her reply.

"Did you parents ever do that thing where they each hold one of your hands and swing you back and forth as they walk? Like, when you were a little kid?" I ask. "Or is that just a thing on TV?"

"Um..." She thinks for a few seconds. "Yeah. They did. I remember this one time we went to a theme park— I was really little so I don't really remember— I was laughing and asking, 'again, again!'." I look up at Em's face. She's smiling at the memory.

"That sounds nice," I say, unable to keep the smile off my own face as I picture a toddler-sized Emerald giggling.

"Maybe Gerard and Lindsey can do that for you?" she suggests. She may have been joking but I can't help but wish I hadn't missed out on little things like that.

I snort. "Yeah, right, I'm almost as tall as them."

"Well, you're a few inches off." When I don't say anything, Em squeezes my hand again. "You have your whole life ahead of you to make new memories with them. Little things that swinging while holding hands could never compare to."

The conversation is turning all too serious for my liking, so I cut the awkwardness I'm feeling by joking around. As always. "Stop being so articulate, Em." I huff. "It's not fair."

"Evie, I'm not the articulate one here! Need I remind you I've read some of your poems?"

I feel my cheeks heat up. "They're not that good," I mumble, kicking a rock along the ground as we go.

"Stop it, you're talented." Before I can argue with her, Em changes the subject and says brightly, "We're here!"

The cafe is small and rustic looking with flower boxes in the windows. The swirly letters on the chalkboard sign sitting outside read, "Free WiFi!"

"I'm sold," I say, pointing out the sign.

"This place looks so cute!" Em gushes.

I quickly step in front of her to get the door. "After you, my— hey, why won't the door open?"

"Eve—"

"Em, it won't— oh."

Emerald laughs as I, her dumbass girlfriend, finally stops pulling on the oak door clearly marked "push".

My eyes dart around, trying to see if anyone saw me do that. It wouldn't be the stupidest thing I've ever done in public, though. I could probably throw out dozens of examples, but let's just say I've said "you, too" to way too many confused waiters who just want me to enjoy my food.

"I'm telling Gerard you did that," Em whispers, still laughing slightly. "Actually, I'm telling all of them."

"Don't laugh at my shame!" I hiss.

That only makes her laugh more.

Emerald and I stand looking at the chalkboard menu for a while, both being the indecisive type. The first decision I manage to make is to order Gee a pumpkin spice flavoured iced coffee. We'll buy it on the way out, though, so it doesn't melt too soon.

Being that the place only officially opened a short time ago, it's pretty busy. Full of people here for the same reason that Em and I decided to come: It's new, so why not try it? There are students sitting at tables, studying (or at least pretending to study), people immersed in conversation in every corner of the room, and there's always that one person sitting alone with headphones on.

That would be me if I didn't have Emerald.

The place is a textbook aesthetic coffee shop with hanging lights, potted plants, comfortable looking chairs, and I can not forget to mention the exposed brick wall. It also looks a lot bigger on the inside than it did on the outside.

When we've finally finished ordering, we find an empty table for two near the far back corner. "Em, I can't believe you didn't let me pay." I pull her chair out for her.

"It's a date and coming here was my idea, so I pay," she states simply.

I sigh, pulling out my own chair and sitting down. The cushioned seats are just as comfortable as they look. "I'm getting it next time."

She then says something under her breath that sounds suspiciously like, "We'll see about that, Way."

In just a few minutes we hear the barista call out a name. "Eve-Lynn?" I didn't think someone could manage to mispronounce my name, but I guess today I was proven wrong. At least the service took a lot less time than we thought it would considering how busy the place is.

"I'll be right back," I tell Em as I stand up from my seat and make my way toward the counter where you pick up your order. When I get there I find my cheese croissant and strawberry smoothie (it may be an odd combination, but that's what I wanted), and Emerald's bagel sandwich.

"Sorry," I address the barista. His name tag reads Ryan. He looks up at me with a warm gaze, his soft curls peaking out from the beanie that definitely isn't part of his uniform. "But my girlfriend got a smoothie, too."

"Oh." He looks around as if he might find it lying around somewhere. "Sorry about that, I'll make it for you right now."

And he really meant it, because in record time I'm being handed a peach smoothie with the word "girlfriend" written on the cup. I drop a few dollars I find in my pocket into his tip jar.

"Here you go, girlfriend," I say, giving Emerald both items she ordered.

She giggles when she sees the word on the cup. "Did you tell them to do that?"

"Nope."

"Impressive." She takes a sip of the peach smoothie and nods in approval. "Hey, Eve, I'm surprised you didn't drop all this on the way back to the table."

"Me too, Em, me too." I take a sip of my own smoothie.

"Good?" she asks.

I nod vigorously. "This might be the best smoothie I've ever had."

Just then, someone walks up to our table. I've never seen them before, but the way they're standing over us makes me nervous before they even utter a word.